Woolly Mammoth

Also known as Tundra Mammoth

Woolly mammoths thrived across the vast mammoth steppe of the northern hemisphere, insulated from sub-zero winds by a shaggy coat with hairs up to a meter long and a ten-centimeter layer of subcutaneous fat. Their massive, spiraled tusks grew throughout life, serving to sweep aside deep drifts of snow, fell brush, and fend off predators. Family units likely resembled those of modern elephants, with tight-knit matriarchal herds guiding young calves along ancient migratory routes.